Reyes Magos on Mallorca: Three Kings Day on January 6

If you experience January 5 on Mallorca for the first time, you are often in for a surprise: in the evening the streets of Palma fill with thousands of people, music booms through the old town, and colourfully decorated floats roll slowly through the crowd. This is the Cabalgata de Reyes Magos, the parade of the Three Kings, and on Mallorca it is an event that captivates children and adults alike. For newcomers from abroad this festival is often unfamiliar, because the Reyes Magos play a very different role in Spain than Christmas figures do elsewhere. Which days in January are work-free on Mallorca and when offices and shops close is covered in our overview of public holidays on Mallorca.

Who Are the Reyes Magos?

The Reyes Magos - Melchor, Gaspar and Baltasar - are the three wise men from the East who, according to the biblical account, brought the infant Jesus frankincense, myrrh and gold. In Spain they have been the central figures of the Christmas season since the Middle Ages: it is not Santa Claus (Papá Noel) who brings children their presents, but the three kings - and not on December 24, but in the night from January 5 to 6.

January 6, the Día de Reyes, is a national public holiday in Spain. Schools, government offices and many shops stay closed. The date marks the end of the Christmas season, and in many families it is the emotional high point of the holidays, more important than December 25.

The Cabalgata: The Parade on January 5

The real spectacle happens on the evening of January 5: the Cabalgata de Reyes. In Palma the parade traditionally starts around 6 pm at the Paseo del Borne and winds through the city's main streets. Dozens of floats, marching bands, clowns and acrobats accompany the three kings, who ride through the crowd on their floats and throw sweets to the spectators.

One important detail: bring a bag. The three kings throw kilos of caramelos (sweets) into the crowd, and children hold their bags wide open. A good spot at the roadside means going home with a half-full bag at the end.

Almost every town on Mallorca has its own, smaller Cabalgata. Places like Pollença, Alcudia, Inca and Manacor organise their own parades, which often feel more personal and family-like than the big procession in Palma. If you live in a village, you often experience the Reyes Magos more intimately than is possible in the city.

Traditions Around January 6

In Spanish families, the night of the Three Kings comes with fixed rituals. Children place their shoes by the door or the window so the Reyes Magos know who the presents are for. Many children also put out grass and water for the kings' camels, a custom that moves children's hearts just as much as leaving milk and cookies for Santa Claus does elsewhere.

On the morning of January 6, children find their presents - and the Roscón de Reyes, a ring-shaped sweet bread traditionally decorated with candied fruit. Hidden inside the Roscón are a small figurine and a dried bean. Whoever finds the figurine is celebrated as king for the day; whoever draws the bean has to buy the next Roscón. In January this cake is available in every bakery on the island.

Is everything closed on January 6? Yes, January 6 is a public holiday throughout Spain. Government offices, banks and most shops are closed. Supermarkets may have reduced opening hours.

Reyes Magos for International Families on Mallorca

For families who have moved to Mallorca from abroad, the question is: how do we make this custom our own? The honest answer: it depends on the age of your children.

Children who grow up or go to school on Mallorca quickly become part of this tradition. At school they write letters to the Reyes Magos, they talk about wish lists with their friends, and the Cabalgata becomes as natural to them as it is to their Spanish classmates. As a parent you do not have to choose: many international families simply celebrate both, Christmas Eve or Christmas Day with the traditions from home and January 6 with the Reyes Magos.

If you take your children to the Cabalgata, keep in mind that the parades in Palma can run past 8 pm. For younger kids, one of the village Cabalgatas is a good pick, as they are shorter and calmer.

More information on festivals and public holidays across the whole year is in our Mallorca events calendar 2026. And if you want to understand what is behind the many local town festivals, read our post on the Fiestas Patronales on Mallorca.

Where Does the Cabalgata Take Place on Mallorca?

Almost every municipality on the island organises its own Cabalgata. Some of the best known:

• Palma: The island's biggest Cabalgata, Paseo del Borne, around 6 pm on January 5
• Alcudia: Parade through the old town, family atmosphere
• Pollença: Smaller Cabalgata with a very local crowd
• Inca: The central hub for the middle of the island
• Manacor: One of the biggest parades in the east

The exact programme for each year is published by the individual town halls on their official websites. For Palma you will find current information on the official website of the Ajuntament de Palma, for the other municipalities on the Consell de Mallorca pages and on illesbalears.travel, the official tourism portal of the Balearic Islands.

January on Mallorca offers plenty more festivals - read more in our post on life on Mallorca in winter.

Conclusion

The Reyes Magos are not a tourist spectacle but a real part of everyday life on Mallorca. If you live on the island, January 5 and 6 give you what may be the most beautiful festival of the year through children's eyes. The Cabalgata is colourful, loud and full of energy, and January 6 is a good excuse to buy a Roscón, put your feet up and enjoy the relaxed side of this Spanish family celebration. As a resident, this date belongs in your calendar.